Sure, you could go to Disney World and dine solely on Mickey Waffles, Corn Dog Nuggets, and DOLE Whips.

And, who am I to stop you? But, if you are looking for a fine-dining experience during your vacation, Disney World actually has some great options! Fans of seafood (hi, it’s me) would be remiss if they didn’t consider venturing to Disney’s BoardWalk for a meal at Flying Fish. Not only is the BoardWalk a fun experience on its own, but this restaurant is also a worthwhile stop on your trip for its beauty and delicious food. Recently, they added some new items to the menu, so I stopped by for a late dinner to check it out.

Atmosphere

As mentioned, Flying Fish is located on the BoardWalk, and if you’ve never been, it is a gorgeous place to watch the sunset. My reservation was for a later dinner, and I got to take in the sights while I waited to be seated.

Once I got the text that my table was ready, I headed inside. The restaurant is stunning.  It’s full of dark, moody blues and a mix of opulent white details that remind you of being under the sea.

Along the main stretch of the dining room is a beautiful flying fish chandelier that brightens up the space tremendously.

Other areas of the dining room have bubble-like light fixtures.

Off to the side, a bar with wine bottle accents offers a fun alternative to sitting at a table.

If you like, you could also request to sit by the kitchen — it’s an open concept, so you can catch a glimpse of the action!

My table was covered in a white tablecloth, and had a candle accent and a cloth napkin.

Even the silverware is fish-themed!

Let’s take a look at the menu.

Menu

I was given two menus. First, the main menu.

Here, you’ll find appetizers, like the Spanish Octopus, Lobster Bisque, and Shrimp Cocktail.

For entrees, you have options like the Verlasso Salmon, Filet Mignon, and Seafood Trofie Pasta.

There are also enhancements you could add to your meal, like the Sauteed Shrimp, Cold Water Lobster Tail, and Seared Scallops.

Also on the main menu is a list of wines by the glass.

Second, I was given a rather large drink menu.

In it was a list of specialty cocktails, craft beer, and ciders…

…spirit offerings…

…rare wines by the glass…

…and a large selection of wines by the bottle.

Hungry yet?

Eats

First, I was promptly served complimentary bread and butter! The bread was warm and delightfully soft, reminding me a bit of mountain bread.

It was served with a pat of whipped butter that was topped with a generous portion of parsley and sea salt.

This was pretty basic bread and butter, but done really well! The whipped butter with the added sea salt really was a nice touch.

For my meal, I ordered the Spanish Octopus and the Chilean Sea Bass.

The Spanish Octopus, for $21, was served with Saffron Aïoli, Shaved Fennel, and Crispy Garlic.

While this is a new version of this dish, the restaurant has served Spanish octopus in the past. I really enjoyed this updated option, though! The octopus was firm and meaty and had a nice char that gave it a bold flavor. It was served on a bed of shaved fennel, which was crunchy and delicious. The veggies were sweet and vinegary, which added a bright and tangy touch to balance out the aioli.

Speaking of, the saffron aioli was amazing! It was a thick and rich mayo-based sauce that had a hint of a mustard flavor. Overall, the flavors went together really nicely.

My only complaint was it was a small portion, but for a fine-dining restaurant, it kind of goes with the territory.

Next up, I had the Chilean Sea Bass for $56. Flying Fish also offered a similar Chilean Sea Bass dish a few years ago, but this newer version is served with Miso Blue Crab, Bok Choy, Spiced Fresno, and Lemon Grass Nage.

The sea bass was cooked perfectly. It has a beautiful crispy outside and a nice buttery flavor. It was tender and relatively mild, with the perfect amount of flake salt on top. The carrots and bok choy were fresh and crunchy and had a hint of citrus from the lemongrass, which really brightened up the fish.

However, the standout part of this dish was the crab. Y’all, it was AMAZING and probably my favorite thing I had overall. It was soft but meaty and bursting with flavor. It was BUTTERY though, with a strong seafood and crab flavor, so keep that in mind if that’s not your thing.

Lastly, I had the new Chocolate-Hazelnut Bar for dessert, which was a Hazelnut Dacquoise with Milk Chocolate Whipped Cream, Candied Hazelnuts, and Orange Sorbet. This dessert was enjoyable, but not necessarily something I would order again for $14.

The cake was soft and had a nice flavor, but it was pretty thin — much thinner than what I was expecting from the image Disney shared!

Fortunately, they made up for it with a lot of chocolate whipped cream, which was decadent and delicious. This went really well with the dark chocolate and crunchy hazelnut topping.

The orange sorbet was tasty but it was actually very tart! The orange sauce that it was served with was bold and tasted like orange liqueur reduction — think sweet but with a bite!

Overall, the flavors were good, but it was a little underwhelming for the price. And keep in mind, the orange chocolate flavor was very strong. If you’re not a fan of that combo you probably won’t like this.

Nosh or Not

Head on down to the BoardWalk if:

• You love seafood. This spot has some great seafood options. It is called Flying Fish, after all. From the impressive octopus to the perfectly cooked Sea Bass, and even the crab that topped the entree — I was impressed with the execution here.
• You are looking to splurge on a fine dining meal. This place is not cheap. Appetizers run from $15 to $21, and entrees reach up to $58, not including any enhancements! The meal and full experience were great, but this is definitely a splurge.
• You want to celebrate a special occasion. Whether you want a spot for a fancy date night or are celebrating a special moment in your life, this place does feel like a worthwhile spot to host that kind of evening.

Keep walking if…

• You’re on a tight budget. There are a lot of ways you can eat well on a budget at Disney World. This spot is expensive, so you’d be better off skipping if you’re trying to save some money.
• You want something more family-friendly. This is a pretty upscale spot that kids might not love. If you’re looking for something the whole family would enjoy, you might be better off looking for something with more Disney theming.
• You are looking for something more simple. If there are some picky eaters among you, this might not be the best place for your group. It’s heavily seafood focused, and there are other places in the area that could please a pickier crowd.

Overall

Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at Flying Fish. The dessert was a little lackluster, but otherwise, it was a relaxing experience with delicious seafood. That being said, the service was a tad slow, so if you’re in a hurry, this might not be the best spot for you.

If you’re looking to unwind and take your time, however, the food here was mostly great, and the setting was beautiful. It is an expensive spot, so I’d save this place for a special occasion, but if you are looking for something more elevated, this is a great option!

As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and food reviews.

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Have you dined at Flying Fish? Let us know your thought in the comments below!

The post REVIEW: Why We’re Willing to Pay for Dinner in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.